Need A Mic & Pre-Amp....Help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter V8-UK
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V8-UK

New member
Hey there everyone, I'm new here!

You all sound like nice friendly people, which comes as a pleasant supprise after reading alot of other forums.

Any way......

I've been recording stuff on my home computer for about 6 months now, I've pretty much got the hang of using all the software and the like, but I'm not satisfied with the quality of the recordings I'm getting, basically because I have a crap £30 mic.

I use my mic for recording vocals and also from my guitar amp, so idealy i'd like to get 2 mics, one for each job, but I wondered if it was possible to keep to just one mic.

For vocals I'd probably get a Shure SM58, and for the amp a Shure SM57, but would i be able to use just one of these mics for both jobs, i.e would the SM58 be any good for recording my amp, and would the SM57 be any good at recording vocals? Which one should I get, or do I really need to get both?

Also I was planning on getting a mixer (I just plug straight into my sound card at the moment), but after reading some posts it seems i'd be better off getting a mic pre-amp. Which one would you suggest for someone on a fairly tight budget who wants fairly good sound quailty?

Hardware & software I use;
-1Ghz Duron
-128Mb RAM
-30Gb HDD
-Sound Blaster Audigy
-Windows XP Proffesional
-Acid Pro 3
-Sounds Forge
-Fruity Loops

Thanks
 
Welcome to the board, it's great here, really nice people as you observed, and they know their stuff. Sorry I don't have much advice. I've been told that the SM57 shouldn't be used as a vocal mic, but I don't know about the other way around. But the mic isn't everything. If you do not intend to do multitracking there are preamps out there for two mics, Midiman Audio Buddy comes to mind, but there are many different kinds. If you think you may want to multitrack down the road you may just want to get a mixer, they usually have mic pre's built in, but you have to be careful about quality, I've heard some of the built in pre's are worse than others. Others will chime in I'm sure, hope this helps some :)
 
For what I've heard, if you take off the cap of the SM58, it's almost the same mic as a 57, so you could keep the 58 as an instrument mic and get a LD condenser for vocals.

If you live in Europe try Spirit Mixers. They sound great and I guess they will not be taxed as hard as a Mackie.
 
Do you know if the 'Behringer Eurorack MX1604A' mixer is any good, its sounds ok from what I've read and isnt too expensive at £140 (about $210).

Here's a pic....
large_1.1.5.4.2-2-3.jpg


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Channel inputs 12
Mono channels 4
Stereo channels 4
Subgroups 2+2
Mic preamps 4
Phantom power +48 V
EQ (mono channels) 3-band plus low-cut
EQ (stereo channels) 3-band
Aux sends 2
Stereo aux returns 2
2-track input/output RCA
Phones output 1
 
I can't tell you for sure, but A LOT of people here doesn't like Behringher mixers at all. I've never heard one, but I own a Spirit and I love it!
 
I've been looking at Behringer recently due to the nice low price, but have seen mentions of people here not liking them, some of those crappy preamps I was speaking of. So I'm gonna do some more research, maybe more suggestions on brands will get posted from someone else :)
 
Hmmm they only seem to have Behringer and Soundcraft mixers at my local BIG music shop.

You know if Soundcraft are supposed to be any good?


Thanx for the replies guys :D
 
Well, they should be great, since Spirit are the "budget" priced Soundcrafts.

Are they any cheap in the UK? I heard they are made over there
 
Well I can get this 'Soundcraft Notepad' for £119 (about $190)

Heres a pic...
index.php


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

10 inputs
4 mic inputs
2 stereo inputs
High-quality mic pre-amp inputs
2-band EQ on all 4 mono channels
Post-fade aux send on every input
Stereo effect return
Switchable +48V phantom power
Stereo inputs with switchable RIAA pre-amps for turntables
2-track tape return
Separate mix and monitor outputs
Peak and VU metering
Headphone output
Compact, lightweight design
Custom designed rotary controls for consistent, accurate
response
 
STAY AWAY FROM MOST,IF NOT ALL,OF BEHRINGER'S GEAR...........TRUST ME!!!!!!!!
 
Ok, thanks for the warning.

Can I trust Soundcraft products?
 
from what I hear from 3 of my friends that own them I would say
yes
 
Excelent.

I've seen a few going at low prices on Ebay, but your never really know what your gonna get till it arrives.
 
Check out Joemeek VC1Q. They're made on your side of the pond, but I don't know what the price point is in Merry Olde England. SM58 is an adequate mic for both guitar and vocals, but I have to say I would prefer a condenser for both purposes. A preamp will give you phantom power, so you can use condensers. I'd try, say, AKG C2000B on vocals and acoustic guit, and the SM-58 for mic'ing a cab.-Richie
P.S.- Many people here don't love the AKG, but I'm guessing the tariff situation there will make their suggestions look a little less attractive and nice, EU made AKG's look a little better.
 
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